When the call for 2022 Commonwealth Games Batonbearers went out in late 2021 my awesome brother, Alan Cornfield, saw an opportunity for me to be a part of this huge event. He nominated me to take part based on my support of the The Eve Appeal.
My inspiration came from my own brush with ovarian cancer in 2008; in late 2009, following my first all clear, I felt ready to give something back, pay it forward, if you will. A brief search of the web led me to The Eve Appeal. Eve’s ethos especially struck me as the way forward. Research! Without research there can be no improvement in our chances of survival and, of course, raising awareness is the key to early diagnosis. The Eve Appeal website was so helpful in my most difficult times when I was looking for answers to all kinds of cancer-related fears and questions.
Over the last 12 years we have done so many things to raise money for The Eve Appeal and raise awareness of gynaecological cancers – there have been coffee mornings, a Halloween Ball, a calendar- but a couple of the stand out fundraisers were a static bicycle ride which we called “Brum to Berghem” and a St George’s Day 5k Fun Run. It is especially poignant that in 2018 when we held our St George’s Day 5k Fun Run, Alan worked his magic and managed to get us into the Alexandra Stadium (where the new and massively refurbished stadium hosted the Commonwealth Games). We would have been content to hold it in the local park! So much more appropriate, don’t you think.
I honestly never imagined I’d get through the selection process, but obviously Alan did an excellent job of bigging up what me and the girls do (14 women, my wonderful friends and family are all part of the effort). He’s always one hundred percent behind all our efforts!
I was absolutely thrilled to be appointed a Queen’s Commonwealth Batonbearer 2022; I felt a little humbled too because I didn’t really think I’d done anything to deserve it. It’s a pretty spectacular honour when you think that the Queen herself started off the baton’s journey all around the Commonwealth and here I was, the penultimate person to carry it. Once I’d picked myself up of the floor, I realised the potential for highlighting the work of The Eve Appeal.
On the actual day, we all felt the buzz of being part of an important community event, but we also enjoyed getting together as mates on a mission. We always say that it’s the teamwork spirit that makes us stronger. Also, when my section of the baton relay came up at the beginning of BBC coverage of the Opening Ceremony, I was totally gobsmacked!!! An amazing day and one that I’ll recall for many years to come.
Some interesting and spooky facts – my number was 64. My age! My allotted section was in Aston, leading up to Aston Hall (a Jacobean, historic building) – I was born in Aston and baptised in the local church, immediately in front of the entrance to the Hall where I was filmed. Spooky!!! All of this a stone’s throw from the Aston Villa football ground – the local team supported by my family.
